On Tuesday, A federal judge granted E. Jean Carroll’s request to amend her defamation lawsuit against former President Donald Trump to seek $10 million in damages.
A nine-member jury, in a civil suit, last month, found Trump liable for sexual battery and defaming Carroll. The jury granted her an award of $5 million in damages, $2 million in damages for the sexual battery claim and $3 million for defamation. Trump’s legal team has filed a notice of appeal to overturn the jury verdict.
Reportedly, shortly after the verdict, Trump appeared in a CNN town hall event, where he repeated claims that he did not know Carroll, despite being photographed with her in the 1990s. Trump said at the CNN town hall event-
“What kind of a woman meets somebody and brings them up and within minutes, you’re playing hanky-panky in a dressing room, OK?”… “I swear on my children, which I never do, I have no idea who this woman is. This is a fake story, made-up story.”… adding
“I had a picture taken years ago with her and her husband, nice guy, John Johnson. He was a newscaster, very nice man. She called him an ape. Happens to be African American, called him an ape. The judge wouldn’t allow us to put that in,”…and “Her dog, or her cat, was named ‘Vagina.’ The judge wouldn’t allow us to put that in — all of these things — but with her, they could put in anything: Access Hollywood,”
As a result of Trumps comments, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan granted Carroll’s attorneys’ request to amend the original defamation suit to include Trump’s CNN town hall comments. Carroll’s attorney Roberta Kaplan said after Judge Lewis’ order-
“We look forward to moving ahead expeditiously on E. Jean Carroll’s remaining claims,”
-Carroll’s Attorney Roberta Kaplan
Judge Lewis disagreed with Alina Habba, Trump’s attorneys’ argument, that an amendment to the lawsuit would “severely and unduly prejudice” Trump, granting Carroll’s request. Reportedly, Habba said in a statement after the fact-
“We maintain that she should not be permitted to retroactively change her legal theory, at the eleventh hour, to avoid the consequences of an adverse finding against her,”
- Alina Habba, Trump Attorney
It looks like Carrroll wants more money for her credibility, however that is not something you can buy – you either have integrity or you don’t. Guess she believes it’s something she can feel better about with more money. Sad.
“There is no fire like passion, there is no shark like hatred, there is no snare like folly, there is no torrent like greed.”
-Siddharta Gautama